Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1887-08-11
THE TIMES.
Recent Summers and Winters.

Recent Summers and Winters.
By Prof. j. j. Budd, Iowa Agricultural College.
In recent letters, Mr.. f. K. Phoenix,
of Delavan, Wis, asks if we know OF
any well-founded reasons for the e1-
tremes of our recent summers and
winters; and when we may reasonably
expect to have a return Of the old
fashioned winters and summers which
permitted the successful culture of the
Ben Davis apple, the early Richmond
cherry, and the Flemish Beauty pear.
The story of what is known of change
of steppe and prairie climates by man s
occupation, and the consequent destruc-
ton of the native grass covering, and
the drying-up of the clogged drainage
centers and lowlands, would be too
long for newspaper article. As early
as 1870 the lamented Arthur Bryant
outlined on page 20 to % of his work
on forest trees some of the Cumulative
evils resulting from the advent OF
civilized man on the prairie, but the in
creased aridlty of and heat of our
westerly winds have become far more
pronounced in connection with the re-
cent unparalleled occupation and cul-
ture of the great northwestern and
western plains. With the old-time
temperature and moisture Of our winds
from the Gulf of Mexico, we now have
sudden alternating winds from the
southwest, west, and northwest in the
growing season, that wither and scorch
foliage like those from the African
deserts. Beyond reasonable doubt the
recent change in the temperature and
moisture of our westerly winds in sum-
mer have had more to do with our Or
chard losses than the increased severity
of our winters. Indeed, it would be
hard to prove that the winter of 1SS4-5
was more severe than that of 1867, or
more destructive to trees or shrubs,
that were able to hold perfect foliage
during the preceding summer.
The same summer change of air that
has made it difficult to grow crop Of
wheat on the virgin prairie is burned,
rusted or blighted, the foliage of many
trees and shrubs we once considered
hardy enough for safe culture. The
steadily increasing percentage of west
erly winds reported at our meteorologl-
cal stations is suggestive of increased
heat over the lower levels of our great
plain. We have also much evidence in
favor of the idea that the inflow of air
from the higher attitudes of Colorado
and the Rockies, brings with it moist
ure from the Pacific that is precipita-
ted in Kansas, Nebraska, and the whole
slope of Iowa, where the westerly in
flow is met by the northern current
coming down eastward of the Black
Hills. As to the surging back of the
pendulum, and the restoration of our
old-fashioned summers, we do not ex-
pect it in our time. Bryant says of
the eliminating evils" growing out Of
the occupation of the prairie: 'They
may be mitigated, perhaps wholly re-
moved, by planting due portion Of
the country with forest trees We
believe this, as history has often re-
peated the lesson in the Old World,
but the timber must be planted in great
blocks, as on the Steppes of East
Europe, SO as to produce regular for
estry conditions, and the unequal heat
ing of the lower beds of air over our
PLAINS. In France, Germany and
Russia, 33a per cent of the entire
country can be kept sheltered by for
ests, but the question arises: Can this
be done in country where such Inter-
State problems are to be solved by the
voters at large? This should be main
question discussed at the coming meet
ing of the American Forestry Congress
at Springfield, ILL.,, Sept. IA, Is and
16, 1887, the announcement of which
is given in another column.
What a Farmer Says About Al